The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-24
XLIXth CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

Petitions in large numbers from Grand
Army Posts were received asking for the
passage of the dependent pension bill over
the Presidents veto.
Various bills were reported from the COM
mittees and placed on the calendar.
Several amendments to the agricultural
committee on agriculture, were agreed to,
down to one providing for the transfer of the
signal service bureau to the Department of
Agriculture and Labor.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend the amend.
ment by limiting it to the weather service"
of the signal service bureau.
The consideration of the bill was inter-
rupted to allow the presentation OF the con-
ference report on the pension appropriation
bill, which was agreed to.
Mr. MOrgan's amendment was agreed to.
Ayote was taken on the section as amend
ed, and it was agreed t0-yeas, 81; nays, Is.
The Senate then took up the pleuro-pneu-
monia bill.
Mr.. Hoar gave notice that he would tomor-
row ask the Senate to assign time, probably
2 O'Clock on Friday, for the consideration of
the Pacific railroad inquiry bill.
Mr.. Frye made an appeal to the Senate to
take up and consider the message from the
President vetoing a bill that would allow
Maine volunteer. He described the case as
a remarkably exceptional one.
After some further statements the bill was
passed over the Presidents veto-55 to 6.
AuJOuIucu dt y U ClOCh.
HOUSE.
The river and harbor appropriation bill
was sent to the committee of the whole
Mr.. Dingley. of Maine, presented memori-
ais of the Maine legislature in favor of legis-
lation to protect American fisheries and for
the passage of the pluro pneumonia bill.
Mr.. Belmont, of New York, from the COM
mittee Of foreign affairs, reported the House
substitute for the Senate retaliation bill and
under a special order asked for its immedi-
consideration.
Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts, raised the
point of order that the substite must be re-
ferred to the committee of the whole on the
ground that it affected the revenue.
The speaker overruled the point of order.
Mr.. Belmont opened the debate by dwell
ing upon the Importance of the subject upon
which the House was now asked to act.
1t was moi. mere commercial question
simply affecting the restriction of American
fishermen. The important question was
whether the United States was willing to ac-
quiesce in repeated violations of a treaty.
He briefly sketched the course of the Cana
dian legislation, commented upon it in the
light of correspondence recently published
between Great Britain and the United States.
Mr.. Rice said there should be no party in
question of this Importance, question
which affected the whole nation. The Sem
ate bill was not party bill but had been
passed after careful consideration and able
discussion by the votes of the Senators on
both sides Of the chamber. Something must
be done to protect our national honor. Dur
ing the past year one hundred Of our vessels
had been subjected to search and some OF
them to seizure by the Canadian authorities
for touching at Canadian ports for purposes
of trade 1t was very vital question to
American honor whether any Canadian Of
ficer possessed such right Of search and
seizure. A vessel named "Gr0ver CleYe-
land" had been stopped, and vessel named
'T. p. BayaId' had been warned off as
suspicious character. tits important there
should be power somewhere to protect Amer
lean honor when affected in so vital point
as this. The Senate bill provided an effec-
tive remedy. If Great Britain shut out our
vessels we would shut out her fish. If she
shut the door in our face we would say mot
at home" when she sent up her card to us.
The substitute bill suggested violation of our
treaty obligations with Great Britain which
to his mind was absolutely unnecessary, sand
not only unnecessary but inpolitic. The
Senate bill covered promptly and effectively
every necessity of the case We did not want
any war with Great Britain. This gasc0nad-
ing talk about war with Great Britain was
nonsense. We could not afford to go to war
with Great Britain.
Mr.. Milliken, of Maine. Suppose she
should 90 to war with us?
Mr.. Rice replied, we would undoubtedly
whip her in the end, but there is no necessity
for war. One year of exclusion of Canadian
fish would bring to and end all the injuries
and Outrages which were being perpetrated
upon our fishermen.
Nh. Davis. of Massachusetts. spoke in sup
port of the Senate bill and appealed for ac-
tiOn which would preserve the interests of
the hardy fishermen of New England.
Mr. Clements, of Georgia, said this was
not a local question; 1t was not New Eng
land question. He hoped that the President
would not be required to exercise any part
of the power conferred upon him by the bill,
but when it was proposed to deal with the
question on the basis Of non-intercourse the
government ought not to stop with mere pro-
hibition of the incoming of Canadian fish.
Mr.. Daniel of Virginia said that the treat
ment of American fishermen by the author
tiles of the provincial government had been
such as to demand the attention of Con-
gress. he hoped that there might be no
war, but he believed the way to prevent war
was for every government whose dig
nifty was insulted, or whose rights were in
fringed, to meet the question on the
gravity which would place it before the
eyes of all nations
Mr.. ningley favored the Senate bill as
meeting fully the situation and avoiding
extremes. At the same time, II the House
should substitute the bill reported by Mr..
Belmont he would vote for that in order to
carry the measure into conference and Sc
cure legislation.
Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky was heartily
in favor of the House bill.
MI. Olu6lCJ ulONCu w ehN oubssA7
tute by the addition Of section rendering
liable to seizure and forfeiture any vessel OF
foreign nationality found engaged in taking
fish of any kind within three. marine miles
of any of the marine coasts, bays, creeks or
harbors of the United States, or lake or
waters of the United States. Agreed to.
The substitute was then agreed to-yeas.
1888; nays, 1913; and the Senate bill, as thus
amended, was passed-yeas, 252; nays !,
(AIr. Doughertyl
Mr.. Breckenridge of Arkansas, submitted
a conference report on the bill making a
close season for mackerel, and 1t was agreed
to.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole on the Senate amendments to the
post office appropriation bill.
After discussing the amendment approprI-
ating $500,000 for foreign mail service with
Central America and South America, the
committee rose and reported the bill back to
the House with the recommenuaatilon " snat t
the amendment be nOn-concurreu ln' Inc
vote was postponed till tomorrow.
The House, at $50 o'clock, ADJOURNED